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Magnetic map guides young salmon to feeding grounds
Juvenile Chinook salmon were studied by researchers in America, to see if their migratory senses reacted to changes in magnetic field.
Juvenile Chinook salmon were studied by researchers in America, to see if their migratory senses reacted to changes in magnetic field.

Study says magnetic fields may explain other migratory species

Young salmon inherit a "magnetic map" to lead them thousands of kilometres to marine feeding grounds, an American study has found.

Lead author Dr Nathan Putman, from Oregon State University , said: "The challenge is explaining how juvenile animals with no prior migratory experience are able to locate specific oceanic feeding habitats that are hundreds or thousands of kilometres from their natal sites."

The study suggests a combination of magnetic intensity and inclination angle was used by juvenile salmon to find their way to food.

Scientists experimented with changing the magnetic fields around the fish and seeing how they reacted.

Dr Putman said their study of Chinook salmon was comparable with similar findings in sea turtles, and implied that "magnetic maps" are "widespread and likely to explain the extraordinary navigational abilities evident in many long-distance underwater migrants."

The study was published in full in the journal Current Biology.

Image by Zureks.

 

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."